During the May 2 General Membership Meeting, two bylaws were amended and several committee positions filled by acclamation. The names of the new committee members, as well as the results of the balloted bylaw amendment votes, are below.
Open Letter to the York Administration: No More Broken Promises
Dear President Shoukri and President-Designate Lenton,
The administration you lead, and are about to lead, is exacting a toll through intransigence and dishonesty toward CUPE 3903 members of the York University community. We appeal to you to act to end the pattern of broken promises. You must ensure that those who work under your leadership honour the promises made on your behalf. You have often stated that you hold progressive values; surely these include honesty and respect for labour rights.
Bargaining Team Recording Secretary Is Acclaimed
Previously, it was announced that the position of Bargaining Team Recording Secretary was contested. However, Gizem Çakmak has withdrawn from the race due to changing circumstances. As such, Sabina Mirza is acclaimed as the bargaining team’s new Recording Secretary.
Accordingly, there will be no election opening on May 2.
May 2 GMM: Tentative Agenda
CUPE 3903 General Membership Meeting
Date: May 2, 2017
Location: Harry Crowe, 109 Atkinson
12pm-3pm
Join and share the event on Facebook here!
Tentative Agenda:
- Roll Call of Officers
- Reading of the Equality Statement
- Reading of the Mississauga Land Acknowledgement
- Approval of Agenda
- Officers’ Oath
- Approval of Previous Minutes (Mar. 15 AGM)
- Bargaining Team Update
- Unfair Labour Practices Update
- Treasurer’s Report
- Committee Reports
- Executive Reports
- Notices of Motion
- Donation to The Women’s Coordinating Committee for a Free Wallmapu (Toronto), for 5th Toronto Mapuche Solidarity Film Festival ($3,100)
- Donation to TRACX, covering expenses for annual symposium budget ($675)
- Matters Arising
- Presentation on York’s Finances from Justin Panos and Sabina Mirza
- Donation to Christian Peacemakers Team
- Donation to Affordable Housing Committee at York University
- Donation to Movement Defense Committee
- Proposed bylaw amendment to Article 8(k): Executive Honoraria
- Proposed bylaw amendment to Article 9: Officers-Trustees (k)
- Anti-Racism Workshop and Training Working Group
- Nominations, Elections, or Installations
- Acclaimed – Chief Steward Unit 3
- Acclaimed – Unit 3 Bargaining Team
- Election – Bargaining Team Recording Secretary
- Nominations/Vacancies
- Accessibility Committee (3 vacancies)
- Advisory Committee on Race/Ethnic Relations, Discrimination and/or Harassment (2 vacancies)
- Bilingualism Committee (2 vacancies)
- CUPE Toronto District Council (4 vacancies)
- Distribution Committee (3 vacancies)
- Election Officers (2 vacancies)
- Employment Equity Committee (3 vacancies)
- Health & Safety Committee (2 vacancies)
- Labour-Management Committee (3 vacancies — Units 2, 3 & 4)
- Professional Development Fund Committee (1 vacancy)
- Research Costs Fund Committee (1 vacancy)
- Research Grants Fund and Travel Costs Fund Committee (1 vacancy)
- Stewards’ Council Listserv Moderators (1 vacancy)
- Toronto & York Region Labour Council (10 vacancies)
- Unit 2 Listserv Moderators (1 vacancy)
- Ways and Means Committee (2 vacancies)
- Unfinished Business
- Adjournment
Please contact Sheila Wilmot at CUPE3903.equity.officer@gmail.com or at 416-736-5154 ext. 3 if you require any of the following: ASL interpretation, reimbursement for childcare/caregiver/attendant care, and/or transportation costs for members who are unable to secure Wheel-Trans, or other requests for accommodation.
How “Consultation” Works at York
CUPE 3903’s Response to the Suspension of the York University Advisory Committee on Responsible Investment (YUACRI)
Like many organizations committed to basic principles of social justice, CUPE 3903 is extremely disappointed to learn of the recent suspension by the York administration of the activities of the York University Advisory Committee on Responsible Investment (YUACRI) (see the open letter from YUACRI members). This unilateral, top-down, and heavy-handed decision comes as a response to the duly-constituted Committee’s recent majority decisions to recommend divestment from companies involved in arms manufacturing and fossil fuel industries. It seems more than obvious that investments in industries that directly contribute to violence and the death of human beings, and to ecological destruction, wholly contradict our shared values and York’s social justice mandate, clearly outlined in the university’s mission statement.
Rather than seizing this opportunity to position itself as a progressive leader taking a bold stance on issues of global concern, the York administration has unilaterally suspended its own Advisory Committee for doing what it was ostensibly designed to do – provide advice, based on community feedback, on how to invest York’s endowment fund responsibly. This unprofessional decision does not demonstrate the kind of leadership that takes principles of collegial governance seriously. As CUPE 3903 is well aware, the current administrative practice of “consultation” with the York community is far too frequently an empty public relations exercise.
CUPE 3903 adds its voice to the many other organizations and individuals at York calling for the immediate reinstatement of YUACRI, so that it can continue its invaluable work.
Chief Steward Unit 3, Unit 3 BT, and BT RecSec Nomination Results
The nomination period for the positions of Chief Steward Unit 3, Unit 3 Bargaining Team, and Bargaining Team Recording Secretary closed at 5 pm on Monday, April 17. The Unit 3 BT and Chief Steward Unit 3 positions are acclaimed — congratulations to the newest members of our executive and bargaining team!
Bargaining Team Recording Secretary is contested. Candidate statements will be posted as they become available. The campaigning phase of the elections will end on May 2, where voting will open at a GMM. Caught between violating the elections timeline or the bylaw demanding monthly GMMs, the executive committee decided to hold the April GMM on May 2 to conserve the integrity of our electoral process.
The results of the nomination for these three position are as follows:
Chief Steward Unit 3
- Sandra Noel — acclaimed
Unit 3 Bargaining Team
- Mariful Alam — acclaimed
Bargaining Team Recording Secretary
- Gizem Çakmak
- Sabina Mirza
Nominate Yourself for Elections Officers and Other Vacancies
Following a recent bylaw amendment, the election of the Elections Officers (EOs) must take place at the April GMM. Due to scheduling restrictions around elections, this GMM will actually take place on May 2 (just think of it as April 32!). There are a number of other committee vacancies that should also be filled at this GMM.
If you would like to nominate yourself for EO or any other committee vacancy, please email Hossein at cupe3903vpu1@gmail.com by 5 pm, Monday May 1. The full list of vacancies is available below.
Bargaining Team Meeting Report – April 13
The Bargaining Team (BT) for Units 1, 2, and 3 met for the fourth time on Thursday April 13.
Agenda
1) Shopper’s Drug Mart Incident
2) Staff Presentation on Bargaining Issues
3) Anti-Oppression Training
4) Bargaining Posters
5) Updates on Surveys
6) Membership Contact Info (not) provided by employer
7) Employment Equity Issues
8) Training
9) Next Meeting
Shopper’s Drug Mart Incident in York Lanes
Looking at the Bargaining Surveys, members have frequently been mentioning racism and Islamophobia. And they are pointing to the Shoppers Drug Mart incident on campus, where a student was injured by store security. Members are really upset, disappointed and angry about it. It is seen as a student and community safety issue. What is York doing about it? How does Shoppers have this space on campus? It is important that we as the BT express our concern.
Unfair Labour Practices Mediation Report
On Tuesday, April 11, mediation was held regarding the Unfair Labour Practices (ULP) complaint filed by CUPE against York University. The mediation was well attended by CUPE 3903, with several rank-and file members, including a member of the Unit 1 bargaining team, present to show York that union-busting is not acceptable. The Chairperson and Communications Officer were in attendance for the executive committee, along with a CUPE National representative and legal counsel. Representatives of the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) were also in attendance.
This first meeting on the ULP was fairly uneventful. Nonetheless, the members in the room took the opportunity to discuss the case and share ideas. The mediation was adjourned pending the preparation of new documents. As the process of mediation is still ongoing, it is unwise to disclose too much in a public setting. Once the next steps in the process are known, they will be shared widely.
Bargaining Team Meeting Report – March 30
The Bargaining Team (BT) for Units 1, 2, and 3 met for the third time on Thursday, March 30.
Agenda
Introductions
Staff Bargaining Proposals
Update on bargaining surveys and unit 1 contract workshops
Bargaining Training: CUPE National training & Anti-oppression training
Planning upcoming meetings
Staff bargaining proposals
Staff gave a brief introduction to several issues that will help form bargaining proposals.
These issues included several unit 2 issues, some issues related to the connection between work and funding for unit 1 and equity issues that have come up since the last bargaining round. There will be a more formal presentation of the bargaining issues identified by staff at an upcoming meeting. Continue reading